Rain was frequent but not plentiful in May

(National Weather Service )

May 31, 2012|By Scott Dance

May 2012 will finish with at least 21 days during which at least a trace of rain was measured at BWI Marshall Airport, a turnaround from an extended dry spell in April. But it hasn't helped May rainfall totals.

Perhaps that's because almost half of those days were the bare minimum -- a trace of rain. That means we had some gloomy and misty days, but they provided less than a hundredth of an inch of precipitation.

Seven days saw a tenth of an inch or more, but only one of those days exceeded half an inch, 0.56 inches April 21.

May rainfall is slightly more than half of normal, with one day left in the month, at 1.99 inches versus 3.86 inches in a normal May. The rainfall deficit for the year to date has swelled to 6.3 inches below the normal 17 inches.

Look out for posts in the coming days reviewing rain and temperature trends for the month and for the spring season as a whole.